Michael B. Simplot

Michael Bruce Simplot, 73, longtime Upper County resident passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the KVH Hospital in Ellensburg. A Celebration of Life open to all will be held from 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, 2024 at The Nelson Farm at Suncadia Resort.

Mike was born on March 29, 1951 in Bellingham, Washington to Cecil & Esther Simplot. He grew up in the Bellingham-Deming area and graduated from Mt. Baker High School in 1969. Following graduation, he completed a little bit of college before going to work as a logger - first as a choker setter, then hook tender and finally his favorite job in the woods - faller.  He worked for a number of different companies over the years including Fetter Logging, Calhoun Logging, Ray Downing Logging and Rayfield & O’Neil.  While he never officially “retired”, he missed getting up before dawn to go to work in the woods. He loved falling trees, being in the woods and logging.

Mike met Phyllis Tingelstad in North Bend while she was a waitress at her parent’s restaurant, the Mar-T.  She was waiting on him and they hit it off and eventually married on May 22, 1976, roughly three months after they officially started dating. Many folks thought it wouldn’t last because they moved so quickly, but they would have celebrated their 48th anniversary this year. The young couple made their home in North Bend before moving to Cle Elum in 1989 where they lived for over 30 years before moving to Ellensburg a couple years ago.

Mike coached baseball for Walter Strom Middle School for 17 years and was also a Royal Rangers Leader for a number of years at the Cle Elum Assembly of God Church. He had a lifelong love of sports, mostly baseball, basketball, and hockey. He was never one to slow down and loved the time he spent outdoors tending to his garden and flowerbeds, cutting firewood, sharpening his Stihl chainsaws (no Husqvarna products allowed!) and washing/waxing his cars. He was a proud American patriot - very conservative - who believed strongly in the core values of our country that were established by our Founding Fathers.

Although he loved everyone in his family, Mike’s greatest joy was his grandkids. He was a big kid at heart and would spend hours playing with them – games, in the pool, or just being silly – he loved every moment he spent with them.

Mike is survived by his wife Phyllis of Ellensburg; children Camie (husband Ryan) Stevenson of Cle Elum, Bryson “Bubba” (fiance Kally Carter) Simplot of Royal City and Kurin (wife Erica) Simplot of Marshalltown Iowa, Bruce Schenck of  Algona,  grandchildren Paisley, Ellena, Weston, Braxton and Ember Lulu; siblings Patricia Davis, Kenneth “Kork” Simplot and Kathy Clauson, as well as many extended family members and beloved friends in the community. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Marlene, Jim, Sonny and David, and grandson Kannon Michael Simplot.

Memorial contributions in Mike’s honor are suggested to the High Country Log Show for the benefit of their scholarship and Christmas programs. Donations can be made at the Cle Elum branch of Cashmere Valley Bank.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Johnston & Williams of Cle Elum. Online condolences may be left at www.johnston-williams.com